I’m watching 2018 begin its final march into the sunset with a burning desire to make 2019 more significant than the year it nudges off the horizon. More significant in understanding my life purpose. And more significant in serving others who need God’s love and hope.

But making that dream a reality is not an automatic result from making another passive resolution and prayer for the new year. NO! Significance is far from automatic, but definitely worth the effort to achieve. Take a look:

significant /sɪɡˈnɪf·ɪ·kənt/    Having influence or effect; importance caused by something other than mere chance.

If we apply that definition to living a Christ-like life, we are on the road toward TRUE SIGNIFICANCE.

“Finish Strong” is a popular aphorism today, but the best way to ensure a strong finish is to “start strong” with a review of the previous year before the new year dawns.

The end-of-year reflection is complete when you run everything through what I call the “HOPE FILTER.” No matter what the year just completed looks like, we must never let it be put to bed without adding the hope we have in Christ that HIS WILL trumps our faulty attempts at being boss.

That hope keeps my life journey moving toward Godly significance. It inspires me to:

Surrender to God and obey what I already know to be his will.

Dig into God’s Word. Go to him in prayer. Listen to the Holy Spirit.

Find solitude, seek Godly input, and bring others into my life.

Focus on how God has wired me and identify my passion and gifts.

Most importantly, it inspires me to remember the importance of living a Christ-like life before Heaven.

ask God to help me identify and seek his take on significance in my faith walk and never settle for “pedestrian faith.”

HOW ABOUT YOU?

Will your 2019 be more significant than 2018?

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10